Japanese Shares Fall as Tech Stocks Weigh

Japanese Shares Fall as Tech Stocks Weigh

The Nikkei 225 Index fell 0.47% to close at 64,693 on Thursday, while the broader Topix Index slipped 0.41% to 3,902, as Japanese equities pulled back from record highs amid renewed weakness in technology shares.

Investors also continued to monitor developments in the Middle East following reports of fresh US strikes on Iran, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed it had targeted a US airbase without revealing the location.

Domestically, Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda warned earlier this week about rising inflationary pressures stemming from higher oil prices, though he stopped short of signaling whether the central bank could raise interest rates at its next policy meeting.

Technology stocks led the market lower, with declines from SoftBank Group (-2%), Fujikura (-2.4%), Advantest (-2.9%), and Lasertec (-3.4%).

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